Prof. Kim Jung-su (photo) of Hanyang University Graduate School of Public Policy has pointed out in his recent article “Dangerous Affair Between Religion and Nation: A critical review of Korea’s religious support policy,” published in vol. 49, no. 2 of the “Korean Public Administration Review,” that the government budget spent in support of religions is concentrated on one particular religion.
Prof. Kim analyzed the expenditures of the Office of Religious Matters, affiliated with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry, and found that the Office has used 56.4% of its support funding for Buddhism, whose believers consist of 43% of the Korean population; 1.5% for Korean religions (7.3% of the population), 0.4% for Confucianism (12.1%), and 2.8% for Protestant Christianity (34.5%). Kim criticized, “This is an extremely out-of-balance, unfair distribution of the government budget. It is very problematic in terms of fair treatment of all religions.”
Reporter Yeong Dae Yoo (ydyoo@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
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Government Support for Religions Is Out of Balance: Buddhism 56.4% vs Protestant 2.8%
2015-10-02 16:50
